According to the Cal Fire web page, as of September 13, 2012 at 7:15 pm the Stafford Fire has been 100% contained and has burned 4,407 acres.All evacuations and road closures have now been lifted. Because of heavy equipment and fire traffic, non-residents should avoid going into these areas. Traffic may be interrupted to allow for snag felling. Power has been restored to the residences on Wildwood Road and in the Wild Things area. Power has not been restored past the residences due to snags that must be felled before power can be restored. Firefighers are mopping up along the perimeter of the fire and doing suppression repair.

Original Post

According to a press release from the Trinity County Sheriff's Office, dated Sept. 10, 2012:As of 4:23 pm, Sept. 10, 2012, all evacuations and road closures have been lifted between Highway 3 and East Fork Road with the exception of Wildwood Road.

The fire is now 4,460 acres and is 45% contained with 225 residences, 28 commercial properties, 200 outbuildings threatened and one injury.Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for the Morgan Hill, Wild Things, Wildwood Road, Nelson Road, portions of Summit Creek Road, Duncan Creek Lane, Barker Creek, Barker Valley, and the lower one-half mile portion of Big Creek Road areas. Road Closures in effect: Wildwood Road is closed between Highway 3 on the North and County Road 343 (East Fork Road) on the South

The Stafford Fire began at approximately 2:42 p.m. Wednesday, September 5 near Wildwood Road southeast of Hayfork. As of Sat., Sept 8 at 1:30 pm, the fire size is estimated at 2,485 acres with 15% containment. The Forest Service and CAL FIRE are fighting the fire under Unified Command, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation. At 5:00 p.m. September 6, mandatory evacuations were ordered for the Morgan Hill, Wild Things and Wildwood Road areas. Specifically, residences from the end of Morgan Hill Road to Genest Road, Wild Things Road, and Wildwood Road from the north end to Highway 3 are under a mandatory evacuation order.

At 12:00 a.m. on Saturday September 8 the Trinity County Sheriff ordered the immediate evacuation of residences in the Barker Creek and Barker Valley areas. Sheriff's officers will be making personal door-to-door notification.

Road Closures in effect: Wildwood Road is closed between Highway 3 on the North and County Road 343 (East Fork Road) on the South. Firefighting equipment and activity near Highway 3 may temporarily interrupt traffic. See Caltrans link for current road information.

The photo below was clipped from the InciWeb site and shows the location of the Stafford Fire.

This North Pass Fire, which began on Saturday August 18, 2012, is now 97% contained and burned over a total of 41,983 acres. The estimated full containment date is Sunday September 16th, 2012, at approximately 6:00 PM. A total of 26 structures have been destroyed and 4 have sustained damage in the fire. Roads nearand around the fire have remained closed and will remain so until hazards are removedand crews complete the repair of fire suppression efforts.

Brief Update as of September 6.

According to the Cal Fire Web Page at 6:30 am: 41,983 acres have now burned with 68% containment at that time. Seven residences and 9 outbuildings have been destroyed and 11 residences, 2 commercial properties & 16 outbuildings are considered threatened.

The forest closure remains in effect. Crews are holding and improving fire near Fly Creek. The fire continues to back down steep slopes on the northwest end into Stick Lake Canyon as crews construct fire line. The area of the fire perimeter to the south is being patrolled and mop-up efforts are continuing to take place. The evacuation order has been lifted for the majority of the Bauer subdivision. Indian Dick Road (Forest Road M-1) is open to Boardman Ridge Campground. Mendocino Pass Road (Forest HWY 7) is open to benchmark 2444 (second driveway entrance to Bauer subdivision) for residents only with a valid ID. Community Meeting is happening tonight at 7PM at Round Valley High School.

Brief Update as of September 5.

A Cal Fire press release received by KMUD News, dated Sept. 5, indicates that 41,983 acres have now burned with 65% containment at that time.

The following present conditions were also noted:

The fire has remained within its current perimeter. Suppression repair has been completed on the western perimeter by CalFire. Firefighters are mopping up the south and southeastern edges of the fire. The fire line along Fly Creek is holding and is being improved. The fire has reached the Middle Fork of the Eel River and remains at the riverbed. Crews are working on actively burning spots in this area with water-dropping helicopters. The northern portion of the fire continues to burn between Pothole Creek and Stick Lake Canyon. This area is in the southern portion of the Yolla Bolly Wilderness. Crews are remaining out overnight in this rugged country to work on fire line. The public is urged to avoid the exposure to smoke and limit activity outdoors, especially those with health problems. Evacuations have been lifted for the majority of the Bauer Ranch subdivision. The press release also states that, "Evacuations have been lifted for the following areas and residents are allowed back in with ID but Forest Roads remain closed to non-residents: Indian Dick Rd from FH 7 (Mendocino Pass Rd) to Boardman Camp FH 7 (Mendocino Pass Rd) from Eel River Workstation to benchmark 2444." For the general public a closure order remains in effect for the fire area, including all road closures. Forest Highway 7 remains closed from Eel River Station to Mendocino Pass.

Additionally, the Cal Fire Web Page indicates that as of Sept. 5 at 6:30 am, nine outbuildings and seven residences have been destroyed and 1 residence, 2 commercial properties and 16 outbuildings are presently considered threatened. There have been nine injuries reported.

Update as of August 31, 2012 at 10:30 am - Use the player below to hear an interview with Stanley Bercovitz of the U.S. Forest Service and with a woman who chose not to evacuate.

An update from the Cal Fire Web Page, dated August 30, 2012 at 10:30 am, indicates that 34,308 acres have now burned with 37% containment at that time. Seven outbuildings and five residences have been destroyed and 23 residences, 5 commercial properties and 35 outbuildings are presently considered threatened. There have been seven injuries reported.

Evacuations have been lifted for the majority of the Bauer Ranch Subdivision. Evacuations are still in effect for: 1) Indian Dick Road (Forest Road M-1)- all areas north of the Forest Service gate at Boardman Ridge Campground, and 2) Mendocino Pass Road (Forest HWY 7)- all areas east of Benchmark 2444 (2nd driveway entrance to Bauer Ranch Subdivision) to Forest Road M-4.

Closures are still in effect for: 1) all areas of the Covelo Ranger District north of Mendocino Pass Road (Forest HWY 7) to the Six Rivers and Shasta-Trinity N.F. boundaries. (Forest closure order 08-12-13).

There is a Forest closure order for the northern two-thirds of the Covelo Ranger District.

Smoke Conditions: An air quality alert has been issued for the Covelo/Round Valley areas through Monday, August 27. Smoke concentrations in these areas have reached levels considered to be “Hazardous” under state and federal air quality standards.

Road closures: An area closure has been issued and posted for the area surrounding the North Pass fire.

Use the player below to hear or download an interview with Stanley Bercovitz of the U.S. Forest Service and with a woman who chose not to evacuate. These interviews were aired on KMUD Local News, Thurs., Aug. 30, 2012, by KMUD News Coordinator, Cynthia Elkins.

According to KMUD News, this Friday (Aug. 24, 2012) morning, Calfire clarified the fire movement saying the fire is now called the North Pass Complex and is technically two separate fires in same area. The Pass 1 Fire has burned into the Mendocino National Forest. Meanwhile, the Pass 2 Fire is burning east toward the Pass 1 Fire, and according to the USFS is still also moving through timber in the Yolla Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness.

An Update from the Cal Fire Web Page, dated August 25, 2012 at 9:45 AM, indicated that 24,199 acres have now burned with 32% containment at that time.Two outbuildings have been destroyed and 75 residences, 5 commercial properties and 80 outbuildings are presently considered threatened. There have been three injuries reported.

There are Mandatory Evacuations in effect for:Indian Dick Road, east of the Town of Covelo, all residents on Indian Dick Road from the intersection of Mendocino Pass Road north, to the Trinity County Line and East to theTehama County Line. This order includes all residences and USFS campsites at Howard Lake Campground, Little Doe Campground, and Hammerhorn Lake Campground and all USFS WildernessTrailheads at Blands Cove, Hell Hole, Stick Lake, Foster Glade, Asa Bean, Rock Cabin, Georges Valley, Soldier Ridge, Smokehouse Ridge and Green Springs.

A community meeting will be held at Black Butte River Ranch (34985 Etsel Ridge Road, Covelo) at 5:00 PM today, August 25.

The fire continues to spread to the East to Forest Road M2, South towards Anthony’s Ridge, North to Cedar Springs Ridge and Northeast towards Pothole Creek and Steel Bench.For the next 48 hours, the fire is projected to have limited movementnorth towards Castle Peak and Red Rock and continue to move east to Forest Road M2 and South toward Anthony Ridge.Firefighters continue to establish and improve containment lines while defending structures.

Smoke Conditions: An air quality alert has been issued for the Covelo/Round Valley areas through Monday, August 27. Smoke concentrations in these areas have reached levelsconsidered to be “Hazardous” under state and federal air quality standards. .

Road closures: An area closure has been issued and posted for the area surrounding the North Pass fire. Please check www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino or inciweb.org for more information.

Anyone displaced by this evacuation order can contact the American Red Cross for housing assistance at (707) 463-0112 or (855) 891-7325. Residents with questions about the fire can call the CAL FIRE Information Line: (707) 456-1810

Friday August 24 on the KMUD Local News, KMUD News Coordinator, Terri Klemetson, spoke with Pia McKizik, a ranch owner in the Pass Road and Twin Rock Ridge area. Use the player below to play or download the audio clip.

Information posted this morning on the Cal Fire web page regarding the "North Pass Fires" indicates that of Fri. Aug. 24 at 10:15 AM this fire has burned 20,775 acres and is 18% contained.Two outbulding sturctures have been destroyed and 75 residences, 5 commercial properties and 80 outbuildings are considered threatened.There have been three reported injuries. Photos in this update were provided by Cal Fire.

Mandatory evacuations in effect are as follows:Indian Dick Road, east of the Town of Covelo, all residents on Indian Dick Road from the intersection of Mendocino Pass Road north, to the Trinity County Line and East to the Tehama County Line. This order includes all residences and USFS campsites at Howard Lake Campground, Little Doe Campground, and Hammerhorn Lake Campground and all USFS Wilderness Trailheads at Blands Cove, Hell Hole, Stick Lake, Foster Glade, Asa Bean, Rock Cabin, Georges Valley, Soldier Ridge, Smokehouse Ridge and Green Springs.

According to the update:The fire is actively burning in heavy timber into the Yolla Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness. The fire continues to spread to the East to Forest Road M1, South towards Anthony’s Ridge, North to Cedar Springs Ridge and Northeast towards Pothole Creek and Steel Bench. Good progress was made on the West and Southwest perimeter of the fire along, Asa Bean Road. Fire moved to within 1/2 mile of Anthony Ridge along the Buck Creek drainage. Firefighters continue to establish and improve containment lines while defending structures.

Smoke Conditions: Smoke is likely to be especially heavy in the Covelo/Round Valley areas. Smoke concentrations in these areas have reached levels considered to be ‘Hazardous’ under state and federal air quality standards. Conditions are expected to remain unchanged tomorrow and at least the next few days.

On Wed., Aug. 22 edition of the KMUD Local News, KMUD News Coordinator, Terri Klemetson covered the mandatory evacuation required as a result of this fire, including information from Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman - this segment also includes Sheriff Allman discussing the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association recent Support Rural America Forum. On last night's edition (August 23, 2012) of KMUD local news News, Terri Klemetson, interviewed a citizen who helped his mother evacuate her house located at the Bower Ranch Subdivision on Anthony’s Ridge. Use the players below to hear or download the audio clips of these news stories.

Date/Time Started: August 18, 2012 2:47 pm Administrative Unit: CAL FIRE Mendocino UnitCounty: Mendocino County Location: Mendocino Pass Rd, northeast of Covelo Acres Burned: 6,415 acres Containment 6,415 acres - 10% contained Control: Pass 1 Fire - 6,400 acres - 10% containedPass 2 Fire - 15 acres - 50% contained Structures Destroyed: 1 outbuilding Threatened: 45 residences Evacuations: Mandatory Evacuations for:Indian Dick Road, east of the Town of Covelo, all residents on Indian Dick Road from the intersection of Mendocino Pass Road north, to the Trinity County Line and East to the Tehama County Line. This order includes all residences and USFS campsites at Howard Lake Campground, Little Doe Campground, and Hammerhorn Lake Campground.Blands Cove Road, east of the Town of Covelo, from the start of the Traveler's Home Wilderness Trail Head, north to the Trinity County Line.Anyone displaced by this evacuation order can contact the American Red Cross for housing assistance at (707)463-0112 or (855)891-7325.

Effective Immediately- The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office has issued a Mandatory Evacuation Order for any and all residents of the following areas:

Indian Dick Road (USFS Road M1), east of the Town of Covelo, all residents on Indian Dick Road from the intersection of Mendocino Pass Road (USFS Road FH7), north, to the Trinity County Line and East to the Tehama County Line. This order includes all residences and USFS campsites at Howard Lake Campground, Little Doe Campground, and Hammerhorn Lake Campground.

Blands Cove Road, east of the Town of Covelo, from the start of the Traveler's Home Wilderness Trail Head, north to the Trinity County Line.

Road Closures, Blands Cove Road and Indian Dick Road (USFS Road M1) will be closed to all non-emergency traffic in the areas noted above. These road closures remain in effect until the mandatory evacuation order is rescinded.

Anyone displaced by this evacuation order can contact the American Red Cross for housing assistance at (707)463-0112 or (855)891-7325.

Anyone having questions regarding this order can contact the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office at (707)463-6536.

Additional Information: CAL FIRE is in unified command with the USDA Forest Service. A Federal Type 2 team is anticipated to arrive at the fire later today. Unified command will continue after the transition with the Type 2 team.

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